Self-aligning counter stool



Dec. 24,1940. `NQ H. cEDERQuxsT u 2,225,735

SELF-ALIGNING COUNTER STOOL Filed March 5, 1958 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE u 2,225,755 SELF-ALIGNING COUNTER STOOL `Nils Herman Cederquist, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 5, 1938, Serial No. 194,086 5 claims. (c1. 155-95) This invention relates to a self-aligning counter stool and to a connection between the seat and the'pedestal of counter stools yso as to make the seat self-aligning with respect to the counter when the seat is released.

In various circumstances, where seats are arranged on pedestals in a rowbefore a counter, such as for example in soda fountains, it is highly desirable to have the seats self-returning to a predetermined normal position with respect to the counter. In this way the customer, after having been served on arising and releasing the seat, permits the seat to return tothe normal position so that all empty seats will be aligned automatically either straightforwardly ,before the counter or at alpredetermined angle with respect to the counter. The unoccupied seats thus arranged present a neatand attractive appearance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved construction rendering the seats automatically returnable to a predetermined normal position which is of, relatively simple and durable construction and which provides means for creating a partial vacuum in the construction when the seat is turned from the normal position. This partial vacuum is utilized to assist in returning the seat to its normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-aligning counter stool construction which is so designed as to efficiently and adequately keep all parts lubricated. Not only are the parts adequately lubricated so as to prevent wear and objectionable noise but the construction is so arranged that there is no possibility of lubricant escaping from the construction to soil the clothes of customers. y

With the foregoing andother objects in View, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawing for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a counter stool illustrating the invention as having been incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the counter stool connection that connects the seat to the pedestal;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the tripod that is attached to the seatand which carries the pin, and of the socket for the pin; and

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2 on a somewhat smaller scale illustrating the parts in the -ber may be adjusted so that its inclined surface position assumed when the seat has been turned from its normal position.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the conventional counter stool consists of a suitable pedestal I0 which may be permanentlyv secured to the floor such as by screws Il. These pedestals are usually made hollow so as to save in weight and in material. Supported on the conventional pedestal is a seat I2 having a suitable back I3.

The invention comprises a socket member I4 which is cylindrical in form or otherwise shaped to t inside of the hollow top of the pedestal I0. This socket member carries at its top an outwardly extending flange I5 that extends outwardly over the top of the pedestal. One or more spacers I6 may be positioned on top of the pedestal beneath the flange so as to adjust the position of the socket with respect to the top of the pedestal and consequently adjust the elevation of seat I2 with respect to the iloor. The flange I5 carries a pair of opposed shoulders I'I and I8 arranged at the opposite ends of the arcuate edge I9 of the flange. These shoulders constitute stops engageable by lug 2i) on the tripod hereafter to be described. The socket I4 has a vertical central cylindrical bore 2l formed therein, the bottom of which termi- ,30 nates on an inclined surface 22. In the preferred form of construction the socket member is made of a single casting and the bore 2l is cored therein with its bottom enlarged as at 23 to form a clearance. The bore is then` reamed down to the enlargement or clearance 23. The lugs II and I8 on the flange I5 are arranged so as to be transverse with respect to the direction of inclination of the inclined surface The socket member is held in any rotatably adjusted position by means of a suitable set screw 24 which is threaded into the pedestal. Thus, on loosening the set screw the socket memsimilar fastening devices may pass through ap- 55 ertures 2B in the ends of the arms and into the bottom of the seat.

The tripod has a pin 21 arranged centrally thereof which has a beveled lower end as at 5 28 complementary to the inclined surface 22. This pin is machinedto closely t the interior of the socket member except for a horizontal encircling groove 29 formed thereon, a short distance above the lower end and above the top of the enlargement 23. This groove constitutes a lubricant-receiving groove and is designed to receive either a heavy oil or a grease.

The operation and advantages of the improved construction are as follows: When the seat I2 is in its predetermined normal position, as shown on Fig. 2, the beveled lower end 28 on the pin rests flatly against the inclined surface 22-in the socket. When the seat is turned however rotation of the pin 21 causes its beveled lower end to turn on the inclined surface 22 so that a type of cam action is produced which elevates the seat slightly, compare Figs. 2 and 4. This causes the space between the two surfaces 22 and 28 to open with the result that a partial vacuum is formed in the bottom of the socket I4. This partial vacuum is maintained by the lubricant seal formed between the lubricant in groove 29 and the walls of the bore 2|.

While the weight of the seat has some effect in tending to cause it to automatically return to its predetermined normal position the creation of this partial vacuum is of material assistance. Usually the weight of the seat and back isv relatively small constituting only a few pounds. the creation of the partial vacuum the effective weight tending to urge the pin 21 downwardly against the inclined surface 22 is materially increased, thus assuring that the seat will promptly return to its normal position when the customer '40 rises and releases the seat.

It will be noted also that rotation of the seat causes the pin to rise slightly within the socket with the result that the lubricant in groove 29 is distributed vertically between the pin and the 45 interior surface of the socket. In this way lubrication is at all times maintained between the pin and the socket. As all of the lubricant is disposed in the socket there is no danger of any lubricant escaping or a customer inadvertently 50 soiling his clothing. The creation of the partial vacuum in the bottom of the socket also tends to effect a distribution of the lubricant over the interior surfaces of the socket.

It will be noted that the present construction 55 does not require the use of springs to assist in the return of the seat to its normal position but instead, relies upon the creation of the partial vacuum to assist the weight of the seat in bringing about an automatic return. The construc- 60 tion also provides for a vertical adjustment of the seat with respect to the pedestal by adding or subtracting collars or spacers IE. These collars may be omitted entirely if desired. The lug and shoulders or stops l1 and I8 are prefy65 erably employed but may be omitted whenever it is desired to have a seat which will revolve through 360 rather than 180.

It will be appreciated that the present conthat it may be easily manufactured from two castings with a minimum amount of machine work.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims. l

Iclaim:

1. A connection between counter stools and their pedestals comprising means adapted to be attached to the bottom of a counter stool seat and having a pin extending downwardly therefrom, a socket adapted to be inserted in the top of the pedestal and to have the pin inserted therein said pin having a beveled end engageable with complementary surfaces in the bottom of the socket, there being a lubricant-receiving groove formed around the pin above its beveled end, whereby when the seat is turned it will be lifted by the turning of the bottom of the pin relative to the botto-m of the socket creating a partial vacuum between the bottom of the pin and the bottom of the socket which will be preserved by the lubricant in the lubricant-receiving groove, the vacuum being effective to cooperate with the weight of the seat in returning the seat to a predetermined normal position with relation to the socket.

2. A self-aligning counter stool comprising a pedestal, a seat, a pin supporting the seat, there being a socket in the pedestal into which the pin extends, said socket having a closed bottom, the bottom surface of the pin and the bottom of the socket presenting opposed complementary surfaces which when the seat is turned from its normal predetermined position cause the seat to be elevated slightly relative to the pedestal and to return to itsv normal position when the seat is released, there being provision made for maintaining a seal between the pin and the walls of the socket above said complementary surfaces so that when the seat is turned from the predetermined normal position a partial vacuum will be formed in the socket between said surfaces.

3. A connection between counter stools and their pedestals comprising a pin adapted to support the counter stool seat, means for attaching the pin to the counter stool seat so as to extend downwardly therefrom, a socket adapt-ed to be inserted in the top of the pedestal and adapted to have said pin inserted therein, said pin having a beveled lower end engageable with the complementary surfaces in the bottom of the socket,

said socket having a closed bottom and means' for maintaining a seal between the pin and the walls of the socket above the beveled end on the pin so that when the seat is turned from a predetermined position a partial vacuum will be formed in the socket which is eiective to cooperate with the engaging surfaces on the pin and socket in returning the seat to its predetermined normal position.

NILS HERMAN CEDERQUIST. 

